Design and Construction
The Seahawk 35 carries a moderate freeboard and a low-profile coachroof that give her a sleek, elegant presence on the water. Beneath the styling, the hull is a solid fiberglass molding reinforced with stringers and bulkheads, and bonded to the deck with bolts and sealant. The deck itself is a fiberglass sandwich with balsa core for stiffness and insulation, painted white with a molded-in nonskid pattern and finished with an aluminum toe rail. The hull wears white with blue stripes and a molded-in rubbing strake. This is a well-built boat that can handle rough seas and strong winds, and her 40-percent ballast ratio on 5,710 pounds of iron and 14,000 pounds of displacement speaks to a stiff, settled platform.
Rig, Deck, and Handling
Above the deck, the layout is practical and secure. Wide side decks and sturdy handrails make movement safe, while a stainless pulpit, pushpit, and stanchions with double lifelines and gates enclose the perimeter. Four winches are arranged with two primary near the helm for genoa sheets and two secondary on the coachroof for halyards and reefing lines. A single wheel on a pedestal housing engine controls and compass connects to the rudder by cables and pulleys, and the cockpit is wide, deep, and protected by high coamings. You can load her down with all your cruising gear and it will hardly affect her waterline, a trait that keeps her composure when weighed for passage. She is not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but she'll come into her own on passage in testing conditions.
Accommodations
Two interior versions were offered. The standard layout splits into three cabins: a forward V-berth, an aft double spanning the beam, and a saloon with two singles plus a U-shaped dinette that seats six and drops to form another double. The owner's version trades the third cabin for an island double forward and a larger heads and more stowage aft. In either guise the interior sleeps up to seven, finished in teak with blue upholstery. The galley sits to port by the companionway with a two-burner stove, oven, grill, stainless sink, and top-load fridge; opposite, the nav station carries a hinged chart table and swivel seat. Six opening ports and two large hatches bring light and air, and the forward cabin adds its own hatch.
Cockpit and Deck Gear
The cockpit is deep and self-contained, with four self-draining lockers and two lazarettes for bulky gear. A folding table mounts to the pedestal and a folding sprayhood gives shelter. Forward, the anchor locker stows 164 feet of chain and 164 feet of rope, served by a bow roller rated to 44 pounds. Ventilation and light are reinforced by four fixed windows in the aft and heads areas, and rope clutches with cleats secure the running rigging.
The Verdict
The Seahawk 35 is a short-run Dubois cruiser built for passages, not marina-hopping. Her solid hull, balsa-cored deck, and deep safe cockpit suit a serious offshore owner, while the two interior plans let a buyer choose between guest capacity and private volume. She is a niche boat by virtue of low production, but a coherent one.
Pros
- Loads without sinking her waterline, ideal for passage provisioning
- Well-built hull and deck for rough seas and strong winds
- Safe, deep cockpit with effective coamings and drainage
- Owner's version offers island berth and enlarged heads
Cons
- Not suited to coastal sailing according to period assessment
- Only 40 built, limiting choice on the used market
- Standard version's third cabin reduces stowage versus owner's layout
